Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-06
A BATTERY DRILL.

kaoW the Cadets at West FONT Pass
Their Facation-Hard Work the Rule.
OF oil the drills and exercises in which
the cadet excels he is at his best IN those
of the mounted service. Daring horse
men are the youngsters after two years
practice in the riding hall, and light bat
terry drill is q famous place for exhibi-
ton. Watch the boys as they go to their
stations. The seniors, in their riding
dress, gauntiets, and cavalry sabres,
swing easily into the saddles of the
somewhat notwithstanding steeds that
are held in readiness tor them, adjust
their stirrups, take o preliminary and
snrreptitious dig with their spurred heels
to test the mettleu of their nags, then
%clatter off to their posts to look oyer the
horses and drivers OF their detachments.
The ye%arlings ia their natty shell Jack
cts stand ready at the guns; the bugle
blares the signal, 'cannoneers mouet,"
and, like 30 many agile monkeys, they
spring to their seats on the ammunition
chests, and with another bugie blast,
and rumble of hoof and wheel and clink
OF trunnion, away goes the battery down
the gravellY plain. There are a few
AS Y Hnkli buCm w w
their work; the battery commander, o
young artillery officer who knows his
trade. swings them to and fro, faster and
faster, from one formation to another
column, line, and battery-and then, as
though ordered to check the advance
OF an enemy swarming up
the heights and give HIM can
lister at short range, with cracking whips
and plunging steeds and rattle and roar
of hoof and wheel, and hoarss.throated
commands and stirring bugle-peals, up
the plain they come at a tearing gallop
until opposite the crowd of spectators
at the guard tents, when there Is q
short, sudden blast, o simultaneous shout
from the 'ohiefe," q vision OF rearing
horses as the %lieutenants and sergeants
halt short on line with the brilliant
guldon-generally the most picturesque
horsemen Of the warlike throng. and
always posted on the flank nearest the
ladies-a fash of sabres in the air, a sud-
den 'sreln I'M Of the line OF oaissons, and
gradual settle down to o stand, long be-
fore which, nimble as cats, the can
noneers have sprung from their seats,
and are streaking it across the gap to
where the chiefs are seated
l w. saSAA rH #E OAu X Ctos
Around sweep the guns with sudden
swirl that we'll nigh capsizss them-the
three youngsters on each timber SEEM
ingly hanging on as though seated on
sticking plasters-there is q rattle and
bang of pintle-hooks. hosrse shouts of
"drive on" to the gun teams; gray and
white forms leap and sway IN and out
among the wheels; spongGs uud raniEaers
1 W htrI ~ in ~ MR. fhnrn q a hnInt ~
flames, smoke, and thunder .cloud,
q believing roar; snother-halt q
dozen in quick succession; q thick, sui
phurous haze settles down on the plain
and envelope guns and gunners; and
suddenly comes another blare of Dugle.
"Cesse firing" is tho shout, aud the
mimic scene of Buena Vista is over.
Even before the smoke has cleared away
another order is given, with prompt,
excltIrg response, plunging horses
cracking Whips, q rush OF teams, limbers,
and caissons between the black muzzels
of the guns; q sudden whirl about o.
wheels and hsndspikes, and the next
moment smoke and fame are belching
in thupder-elaps oyer the very ground
where stood the waiting teams only o
moment before. Then still an.
other signal, a slowing away OF hand
spikes and hammers, O rapid reln-about
of the Understands, another blere, and
away they go. the white legs of the can
noneers flashing in q race beside theil
bounding guns; q rush across the rosd
to the edge of the grassy level beyond
and another sudden whirl into battery
q laundering salute to the rocky heights
to the west, an echoing roar from the
great columbiads and PARROTS at the
sea cosst" down by the Hudson. and
the Point fairly trembles with the shoch
and concussion. There is no hour of the
day to match the excitement and elan o.
that of battery drill.-Oaptasm Char1e,
King, in Hagper's MaqazSne.